LESTER PETERSON

Canon-McMillan High School

WRESTLING
He won three WPIAL championships from 1967-69 and is one of 17 wrestlers in school history with this accomplishment
Peterson became the tradition-rich program’s first PIAA individual state champion when he won the 1969 championship at 120 pounds, defeating defending champion Dave Clark of Clearfield, 10-9, after overcoming 6-0 and 8-5 deficits
He was a PIAA semifinalist in 1967 and 1968
As a sophomore, he lost by default – plagued with cramps – to Ed Osborne of Commodore Perry in the semifinals. The following season, he lost to Clearfield’s Norm Palovcsik in the 120-pound semifinals
As a senior, Peterson won the 120-pound class in the WPIAL, there were four regional champions in the bracket. He defeated Waynesburg’s three-time WPIAL champion Gary McClure in the finals, 9-6.
At the state tournament he earned a 9-6 semifinals decision over Dan Sanders of Lower Dauphin. He then met defending state champion Dave Clark of Clearfield in the PIAA championship match. Peterson fell way behind Clark, who scored a take down, two-point near fall and an escape, in the second period to claim a 6-0 lead. Peterson managed a reversal and took Clark to his back for two near-fall points, cutting the lead to 6-4. Peterson escaped Clark in the third period to make it 6-5. But Clark scored another takedown for a three-point lead. Peterson escaped to make it 8-6. With time clicking away, he made his move. Peterson’s takedown and two-point near-fall in the final 45 seconds had turned into a 10-9 victory to win the state championship and end Canon-McMillan’s individual PIAA championship drought
He also participated in track and field and excelled in the hurdles